Lubricator construction



MARTIN R CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1931.. 1 I F. w.

LUBRICATO Filed N July 7, 1931. F. w. MARTIN LUBRICATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 11, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwewboz July 7, 1931. F. w. MARTIN 1,313,413

LUBRICATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 11, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jugu. 5

11:: W *iijjjijiif m anoentoz WWW mt /4 aw Patented July 7, 1931 FREDERICK. W. MARTIN, QF' B O VILLE. YQEK, PQ E A KL EN BAIL- WAY S EIPLY CQMPANY, A. GOBPOR' EIQN' F DELAWAR nunnroaron oousfili merlou.

Application filed November 11, 1925. Serial No., 6 8,i26f0.

My invention relates to lubricators for the axle boxes of railway vehicles, and particularly the driving boxes of locomotives. A principal object of my invention is to make l a single size of lubrica-tor adaptable to axle boxes and lubricating chambers of various different sizes. I also aim to improve the lubricator and associated parts in other ways and, further, to provide an improved type I. of spreader for thebox sides.

In present" practice, locomotive drivingboxes differ not only in diameter of axle and length of bearing, but also in other dimensions, such as thewidth of the lubricator I chamber or space below the axle, between the box legs, or sides, and the height of this chamber from spreader to axle. Accordingly, arailroad may have in service 10-inch by 12inch axle boxes of various different types, or designs, each requiring its own type of lubricator equipment to fit it properly.

' To meet this condition, it is necessary for railroads to have as many styles of lubricator equipment for each size of axle bearing as there are typcs'of driving box in that size. These must be carried constantly on hand at all points where provision for lubricator replacement is necessary. And as there are sevan oral thousand different sizes of lubricators in use on various railroads, the manufacturers of lubricators'find it impracticable to carry any complete line of lubricators, or even of parts for their manufacture. On the contrary, they make the parts and fabricate the lubricators only as actual orders are received from the railroads.

- It is myaim to ameliorate this condition by adapting a single size of lubricator to a number of different sizes of driving boxes, so that a couple of styles will meet all possible cases for a given size (e. g., -inch by 12-inch) of axle bearing. How this and other advantages can be realized through my invention will appear from my description hereinafter of selected and preferred em bodiments. i

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view ofa' locomotive axle box with lubricator equipment conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal (axial) rnid'section through the axle box and associated parts taken as indicated by the line 22 in Fig". 1 but with the end plate swungto its open position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the axle and'the lubricator par-ts, taken as indicated by the line 33 in Fig, 2 but showing the entire axle and box.

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the improved spreader used with my invention.

Fig. 5 is a partial view similar to Fig. 3 which illustrates a modified spreader and centering construction.

Figs. 6 and 7 are partial views also similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a still further modification.

Referring to the drawings and especially to F 1 to 4 it will be seen that they show an axle 7' and an ordinary type of axle box 8 with crown piece 9 and space between its depending legs 10', 10 for the lubricating collar 11. The cellar 11 rests on a spreader 12 that prevents the box legs 10, 10 from pinchingin, andi's secured in place by pins 13, through corresponding lugs 14, 15 at the lower ends of the legs 10, 10 and on the bottom of the spreader 12, respectively. The lubricator collar 11 is of sheet metal, with a perforated lubricating plate 17 curved to fit the axle 7, and a follower plate 18 urged upward by a helical compression spring 19. i

The spreader 12 is preferably cast with its outer endwall 12a (that is, the wall adjacent the wheel hub, not shown) integral and spaced at'the top to conform to the curvature of the axle. Extending inwardly at each side is a bracing web 126 which tapers abruptly, as shown, to the rib 120 extending from thence inwardly at each side to the inner end of the spreader. 'lhere isprovided also a margin ion it to any lesser opening between the box legs 10.

Preferably, the lugs 15 are so located as to make contact with the box lugs ll in all cases, and machined away as required when the edges of the plate-like bodyv of the spreader are machined. In this way, the pins 13 are subjected to shearing only, and are not liable to distortion by bending. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the cellar 11 is of minimum width for axles of the size for which it is intended: in the present instance, its width is just equal to the axle diameter. It is centered in the lubricator space or chamber between the box legs 10, 10 by means of the ribs 120 and webs 12?) which act as guides.

The. more ordinary variations in the height of the lubricator space (from spreader 12 to axle 7) indifferent box designs, may be taken care of by providing the lubricating plate 17 withdownturned side and end flanges 20, 21 of ample width to close the space between the cellar edge and the axle 7 under all conditions. To take care of extreme variations, it may be necessary to make and stock cellars 11 of severaldiflerent heights; but the number of such cellar styles will still be very much less than if a diiterent one were required for every width of lubricator chamber.

The inner end of the spreader carries the lugs 22 to which is pivoted by a pin 23 a retaining end or closure plate 24. The downwardly extending lugs 25 on this plate fit between the lugs 22 and the aperture 26 which engages the pin 23 takes the form of an elongated slot. (See Fig. A spring 27 acts between the pin 23 and a pin 28 in the pocket like recess 29 on the outside of the plate 24.

The lugs 15 are provided at the top with the lip-like extensions 30 and when it is desired to close the plate itis simply swung upwardly on the pivot pin 23 from the position show in Fig. 2- to that illustrated in Fig. ,1, the slots 26 permitting the slight vertical movement necessary to clear the upper extensions of the lips 30. The plate will be snapped and held in place by the spring 27. The pins 31, which are used when inserting a grease cake to hold down the follower plate 18, are removed when theplate 24 is to be swung into closed position.

In the modification of Fig. 5 the spreader 12 does not have the webs 12b and the ribs 120 as before but instead it is provided at the sides with thecutaway or recessed portions 12. The cellar 11a has downwardly pro]ect1ng portions 32 at the sides which snugly fit against the shoulders of the recessed portions 12 as shown, the arrange ment serving to center the cellar. The outer portions 01" the spreader are machined away, as before, to accommodate it to axle boxes of smaller width.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the spreader 12X presents a plain upper face and centering of the cellar 11?) is arranged for in still another way. The upper edges of the cellar sides are provided with some sort of extension 33 which can take the form of an outward bend of the cellar sides, as shown, although a series of isolated lugs or abutments of one kind another such as adjustable bolts might be used equally well. Vhen applying the cellar to a less than maximum size box the extensions 33 may be bent over, as illustrated in Fig. 7, or cut away a sufficient distance to permit insertion into the available space.

Turning again to the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 4 it will be seen that the spreader is of extremely sturdy construction, the end portion 120 being well supported by the webs 12b. Shouldthe locomotive be lifted by a crane withthe axle in place the weight of the axles and wheels would be easily carried by theend portion 12a without any danger of its breaking off.

I claim l. Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a spreader having marginal extensions of maximum size adapted to be reduced for narrower boxes, a cellar of minimum size, and centering means for the cellar.

2. Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a spreader having marginal extensions of maximum size adapted to be reduced for narrower boxes, a cellar of minimum size, and guides on the spreader for centering the cellar.

3. Lubrlcator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a cellar of minimum size, a spreader with an upstanding guide adjacent each side adapted to receive and center the cellar between them, and a marginal extension beyond each guide ror adapting the spreader to boxes of maximum size and capable of reduction to. fit boxes of smaller size.

4. Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a'cellar of minimum size,a spreader with an upstanding guide adjacent each side adapted to receive and center the cellar between them, a marginal extension beyond each guide for adapting; the spreader toboxes of maximum size and capable of reduction to fit boxes of smaller size and an end wall on the'spreader between the guides shaped to conform to the curve of the axle and adapted to receive its weight should the locomotive be raised with the box in place. p i

Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a cellar of minimum size, a spreader with an upstanding guide adjacent each side adapted to receive and center the cellar between them, a marginal extension beyondeach guide for adapting the spreader to boxes ofmaximum size and capable of reduction to fit boxes of smaller size and an end Wall on the spreader between the guides and braced thereby and shaped to conform to the curve of the axle and adapted to receive its weight should the locomotive be raised with the box in place.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a spreader for vehicle axle driving boxes having an upstanding end plate for receiving the axle load and a lateral rib bracing said end plate at each side thereof, said ribs tapering abruptly and continuing rearwardly away from said end plate to constitute lateral guide means for centering a lubricator.

7 In a locomotive driving box,,the combination of a spreader member of maximum width adapted to be reduced to fit smaller boxes, lubricator cellar guiding ribs extending along and spaced from the side edges of said member and a cellar removable and insertable in the box between said ribs independly of said spreader member.

8. Lubricator equipment for axle boxes varyin in width but adapted to house a given iameter axle journal including a cellar adapted to cooperate in lubricating the said given diameter axle journal and a spreader member having cellar, guide means extending longitudinally of the journal to provide for removal and replacement of the cellar by longitudinal sliding movement, and marginal extensions beyond the guide means adapting the spreader to boxes of maximum size and capable of reduction to lit boxes of smaller size.

9. Lubricator equipment for axle boxes varying in width but adapted to house a given diameter axle journal including a cellar adapted to cooperate in lubricating the said given diameter axle journal and a spreader member having spaced guides for the cellar arranged to provide for removal. and replacement of the cellar by sliding movementout of and into the box, and marginal extensions beyond the guide means adapting the spreader to boxes of maximum size and capable of reduction to fit boxes of smaller size.

10. Lubricator equipment for axle boxes varying in Width but adapted to house a given diameter axle journal including a cellar adapted to cooperate in lubricating the said given diameter axle journal and a spreader member having a'guide adjacent each side adapted to engage and center the cellar, and a marginal extension beyond each guide adapting the spreader to boxes of maximum size and capable of reduction to fit boxes of smaller size.

11. Lubricator equipment for axle boxes varying in width but adapted to house a given diameter axle journal including a cellar adapted to cooperate in lubricating the said given diameter axle journal and a spreader member having cellar guide means extending smaller size.

12. Lubricator equipment for axle boxes 7 varying in width but adapted to house a given diameter axle journal including lubricator elements adapted to lubricate said given diameter journal and a spreader member having guide means for the elements extending longitudinally of the journal to provide for removal and replacement of the elements by longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the spreader member, and lateral extensions beyond the guide means adapting the spreader to boxes of maximum size and capable of reduction to fit boxes of smaller size.

13. Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a spreader having marginal extensions of maximum size adapted to be reduced for narrower boxes, a cellar of minimum size, and centering means for the cellar cooperating with the box structure.

14:. Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a spreader having marginal extensions of maximum size adapted to be reduced for narrower boxes, a cellar of minimum size, and centering means for the cellar in the form of adjustable members cooperating with the box walls.

15. Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of various sizes, comprising a spreader having marginal extensions of maximum size adapted to be reduced for narrower boxes, a cellar of minimum size, and centering means for the cellar in the form of adjustable members carried by the cellar and cooperating with the box walls.

16. Lubricator equipment adaptable to axle boxes of varioussizes, comprising a spreader having marginal extensions of maximum size adapted to be reduced for narrower boxes, a cellar of minimum size, and centering means for the cellar in the form of extensions of the cellar walls adapted to cooperate with the box structure.

In testimony signed my name.

FREDERICK WV. MARTIN.

whereof, I have hereunto 

